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How to Replace Glass in a Single-Pane Window in a Basement

So you want to save money on Glass Repair Services. Whether you’re just looking for a modern upgrade or if there is a dangerous break, it’s important that replacing the glass in your windowpane is a task best completed in a timely and safe manner, with emphasis on safe! We strongly recommend you consult a professional if you have any doubts in your own ability to replace the glass. Even if you feel confident enough, remember to wear heavy-duty work gloves, safety glasses, sturdy boots, and a helmet or hard hat. Set up a mat underneath the window to contain any stray shards, and if you can get a good grip, use a towel to hold the glass edges so you’re not risking any lacerations to your palms. Now that you’re ready, let’s break it down:

Glass Replacement Step 1

First, remove any and all broken glass. Dispose carefully in a sealed container. Use slow, controlled, steady movements, and understand that those edges are sharp!
If you do not already have your replacement glass pane, measure the size of the opening of the window as exactly as possible. Some glass companies will expect you to subtract 1/8 of an inch when placing an order, so keep that in mind.
If the window frame is made of metal or of vinyl, use pliers or a screwdriver to remove the sling splines or spring clips, depending on the frame. Insert the replacement glass and reattach the splines or clips, replacing them if they are old or damaged.

Put in the Fixed Glass Step 2

All done! Pat yourself on the back for being so brave and strong.
If the window frame is made of wood, this requires a bit more maintenance. Use a chisel or a putty knife to carefully remove old putty, and use pliers or a glazing tool to remove the metal spikes beneath the putty in the corners of the frame. Gently sand the frame and apply a coat of linseed oil or similar woodworking oil before applying a thin layer glazing compound all around the frame. Press the new glass into the frame, and while it is held in place, insert the metal points back into the corners, and drive new ones into the wood every few inches all around the glass. Then, take a long, thin strip of glazing compound and push it into place around the edges into the space between the frame and the new pane. Smooth it out with the blade of the glazing tool, and you’re done! Just let the compound sit for a week before painting or messing with the frame any further.

Single Pane Complete Window Glass Repair

How did you do? Do you have a generations-old family secret regarding the best way to replace a single-pane window? Are you feeling proud of yourself? We’re definitely happy for you! All it takes is some patience and elbow grease, but it’s not an especially complicated job. Just remember to keep the kids out of the way – your glazing tools are not toys! And again, if you ever feel like it’s too much, call up a professional. Don’t risk your health and safety for a window. Good luck!

Electric Window Repair Tips

The most obvious fault with electric windows is that they fail to operate. If the problem occurs on all windows you can be pretty sure that the fault is in the main wiring circuit, and this is also the region to check first even if the problem is restricted to just one window. Try listening to see if you can hear the motor operating – if it is, but the window does not move, the problem lies in the mechanical linkage.

Jerky or slow operation and mechanical noise point to a problem with the mechanism, window guides or drive motor of the window concerned – the fact that the window is partially working shows that the electric circuit is complete.

Jamming part way through the motion is probably due to the window or the mechanism guides, and if there are rattles from the door the window guides may be loose.

Keep it safe

As with all electrical equipment you need to take care when making tests to ensure that you do not short the power supply to earth. The circuits for electric windows are designed to carry very high currents so a lot of damage could be caused before the protecting fuse blows.

To avoid the risk of accidentally operating the winder motor while you are dismantling the window mechanism, disconnect the battery leads before you start work.

If you need to operate the window as part of your checks, take particular care to make sure that nothing gets trapped– the scissor action of a typical lever mechanism could easily remove the end of a finger.

Erratic operation, with the window working perfectly sometimes and then playing up, is most likely due to an intermittent electrical fault, such as a loose connection.

Check the fuse

If the windows refuse to operate, most window circuits are protected by a fuse or cutout in the supply line and this is the first place to check. With some arrangements a single fuse in the main supply line is used to protect the complete window system so a failure here affects all the windows. Other cars have individual fuses for each window motor so failure will only affect the one window.

In some cars the fuse is in the main fuse box but many makers use in-line fuses so check with your manual to find where the fuse is and replace it if blown. Instead of a fuse the system may be fitted with a circuit breaker.

Test the window. If it works properly the fuse probably blew (or the cutout tripped) due to a temporary overload. If the new fuse blows immediately you will have to investigate further.

Power supply check

Generally the power for the window circuits (which draw a large current) is supplied direct from the battery through a relay (or relays) actuated by turning the ignition on. Find the relay position from your car handbook.

If there isn’t any the problem lies in the wiring from the ignition switch. Test the output side of the relay – current means the relay is faulty and should be replaced, otherwise the problem lies in the control switches, the motor or the wiring itself.

How to properly seal a vinyl retrofit window

These days a lot of homeowners are replacing their old windows with vinyl windows using the retrofit style of window frame. This is particularly true in the west, and specifically, in California. The number one arguement that I have heard against using the retrofit method, is that it is susceptible to water leaks. Well, that’s true if you don’t do it properly. But, if you do a complete tearout of your old window down to the studs, you’re going to have water leak issues there as well if you don’t install the new window properly. I think that arguement is, well, all wet. Let me tell you the best way to install your retrofit windows that will ensure that water can not get in.

How to Install Retrofit Vinyl Windows

If you are installing retrofit frames against a stucco house, you want to put a thick bead of sealant right on the outside face of the old window frame, all the way around. You are going to use 1-3 tubes per window, depending on the size. Here is a trick that I used to do to save a little money; The most vulnerable part of your installation is the top of the window, because gravity will have the water running down from the roof to the ground.
After you have the window completely installed, your final step should be to caulk where the retrofit lip meets the stucco. Here again, I used to use white silicone on the top, and caulk on the sides and bottom. You now have a double barrier against water infiltration. After about a week, check the sealant around each window for signs of cracking. There could have been gaps that were larger in some areas than in others because stucco is usually uneven. If you don’t force the caulk into the gap to completely fill it, the caulk can sag before drying, causing a crack to form. Simply recaulk over any cracks that you see. You can check the silicone on top as well, but because silicone dries like a rubber substance, you shouldn’t see any cracks there. OK, what if the replacement windows are going between wood trim surrounding the opening? If you are using the retrofit lip, and trimming it to fit between the wood, then you still apply the heavy bead to the old frame before installing the window. Instead of sealing where the retrofit lip meets the stucco, you seal where it meets the wood. You want to be sure to seal above the window, where the top piece of wood meets the stucco. Again, use silicone up there. Now, no water can run down the stucco wall and get under the top piece of wood.

Sometimes, though, you might decide not to use a retrofit style frame between the wood, choosing a block replacement frame instead. You still want to apply the sealant to the old frame, then apply your trim so it contacts the new window as well as the sealant on the old frame.

Home Improvement Rules to Follow

Even though home improvement is pretty straightforward most of the time, it is important to carefully follow instructions in order to successfully complete a home improvement task. Home improvement is clear-cut, but takes patience and requires that you follow instructions to the detail.

When repairing or remodeling, it is imperative that you closely follow the instructions. Written instructions will provide you with the steps to correctly complete the project and avoid problems. And make sure to keep any receipts for materials and tools you buy incase you need to exchange the merchandise or return.

The first rule of home improvement is to learn as much as you can before starting a project. If you are planning on hanging drywall in a room in your home, you need to know exactly what materials you will need, in addition to the steps used to complete the job. You will also need to know what about wallpaper, tiles, paint, or other materials to finish a wall job.

Most any home improvement job will increase the value of your home. That is why it is important to be very methodical when you start a home improvement project; you should take notes, create files, and plan every step of the job.

Budgeting and planning are two other important steps in any home improvement project. If you do not have a plan, you will likely spend more money than you need to, buy the wrong materials, take longer to complete the project, and make errors along the way.

Depending on the type of home improvement project you are planning, it could be rather straightforward. However, some home improvement projects are easier than others. Ease of completion does not equal less cost, however.

For wall improvement projects, tile, paint and panel are sometimes easier than wallpapering. Tiles come in multiple choices, including self-adhesive, or peel and stick. If you have damage to your walls, such as holes, you will require spackle and a few other materials to patch the area before finishing the walls.

When remodeling a basement or repairing, the same rules apply and then some. Michigan and Kentucky basements are known to be the worst for home improvement, mostly because those areas are highly prone to flooding. Improvement or repair projects in basements often require special considerations for insulation, and can often cost more money and require a little more time to complete a job. Basements in newer home tend to have fewer problems, thanks to advances in construction.

Making improvements or repairs in a bathroom requires a whole unique set of tools and knowledge. Dealing with plumbing and electrical issues are the trickiest parts of home improvement, because they often require a certain level of expertise, and even professionals have been known to make mistakes. That is why educating yourself before beginning a home improvement or repair project is imperative.

A big rule to follow in home improvement is to clear whatever area you are working in completely before beginning the job. This will prevent accidents and things from getting damaged or destroyed. It is also imperative that you use safety equipment, such as dust masks, gloves, and goggles when doing any kind of home improvement or repair project.

Emergency glass repairs can only be done when the broken glass to be replaced is either a plate glass window, or a standard tempered glass window.

Regarding residential glass repairs, if the window glass to be repaired is plate glass, the glass company can cut size the window glass to fit the opening on site. You will have to wait 3 to 4 days until your window repair can be delivered if you have an insulated window.

You will need an emergency board service until glass repair service can be installed. Patio door glass or any door glass for the fact by law needs to be safety glass. Safety glass can be either tempered glass, or laminated glass in which case tempered glass will have to be ordered and usually takes 2 to 3 business days to receive.

Some tempered patio door windows are standard sized, and are stocked by emergency glass services. When the patio door glass is insulated more variables come into place when determining whether or not the broken glass repair can be done immediately or not. Grids patterns need to be matched, also identifying if the broken glass is low-e or not can cause delays in getting your door glass repaired.

If the overall dimensions and thickness of the broken window glass are off even by the tiniest fraction, the glass repair service can be compromised. If the new door glass window is too small the glass will not seal to the frame, and water will leak through the opening causing water damage.

Finding an emergency glass service that is actually an emergency glass company can be difficult. You may find yourself calling a bunch of telephone numbers, and leaving messages. Call The Board Up Company. We will discuss your emergency window repair options to see if an emergency glass repair is even on option. We’ll save you valuable time, and if an emergency window glass repair is an option, we will gladly give you some emergency glass company telephone numbers that actually answer their calls.

The Board up Company will provide you with an emergency board up until glass repairs can be scheduled if you can’t get your window repaired right away.

Commercial Glass Repairs

Commercial Board Up Service Usually emergency commercial glass repairs can not be done safely after normal business hours.

Emergency commercial glass repairs can only be done when the broken glass to be replaced is either a plate glass window, or a standard tempered glass window.

Regarding commercial glass repairs, if the window glass to be repaired is plate glass, the glass company can cut size the window glass to fit the opening on site.

You will have to wait 3 to 4 days until your window repair can be delivered if you have an insulated window. You will need an emergency board up until the glass repair service can receive the glass to install.

Any door glass by law needs to be safety glass. Safety glass can be either tempered glass, or laminated glass in which case tempered glass will have to be ordered and usually takes 2 to 3 business days to receive. If your door glass is not a standard size, you may opt for laminated glass unless you have a mail slot in the door.

Any broken glass to be repaired that is set within 18″ of the ground will have to be tempered, or laminated.

Commercial Board Up ServiceAny broken glass that is set next to a door will also need to be safety glass.
Tempered windows will take about 2 to 3 days to receive. You will need an emergency board up service until that time.

The measurement of the glass thickness and spacer thickness in the window glass frame has to be precise. The glass repair service can be compromised if the overall dimensions and thickness of the broken window glass are off even by the tiniest fraction. , if the new door glass window is too big it will not fit into the frame.. If the new door glass window is too small the glass will not seal to the frame, and water will leak through the opening causing water damage.

Finding an emergency glass service that is actually an emergency glass company can be difficult. We’ll save you valuable time, and if an emergency window glass repair is an option, we will gladly give you some emergency glass company telephone numbers that actually answer their calls.